System in illumination and particularly to apparatus therefor



27, 1934- M. H. GREENEWALT ,949,101

SYSTEM IN ILLUMINATION AND PARTICULARLY TO APPARATUS THEREFOR OriginalFiled April 26, 1924 l/Hg 105 E146 5149 142 E E 104 INVENTOR PatentedFeb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES SYSTEM IN ILLUMINATION AND PARTICU- LARLY TAPPARATUS THEREFOR Mary Hallock Greenewalt, Philadelphia, Pa. Originalapplication April 26, 1924, Serial No.

709,283, now Patent No. 1,793,284.

Divided and this application February 3, 1927. Serial No.

3 Claims.

One purpose of my invention relates to system in illumination andparticularly to apparatus therefor.

This is a division of my application Serial 5 709,283 filed April 26,1924 now Patent Number In using light as a universal medium ofexpression such constant factors must be taken account of as areuniversal in the process of seeing.

Chief among these is the fact that the least perceptible point and theleast perceptible gradation of illumination from the zero of light orabsolute of darkness up, is equally visible no matter how small or howlarge the area in which it is manifested and that the progressive leastvisible increases in illumination brightness make a light scale which isof fixed form and registers the same to the eye, within the margin ofhuman variation, no matter who the beholder and under similarcircumstances where beheld. Space efiaces sound. Light conquers space.

A playing scale for light may be likened to a cone Whose vertex is thefirst appreciable point 26 as to the spot lit and the light gradationmanifest,

its base being x in increase capacity.

In other words the brightness increase of a light scale is progressivein that the first elements of the series are the same, the last flexibleas to 30 increase.

The light scale which has been described as of cone-like increase mustbe provided, in this same character, for every one of the six colors ofthe spectrum and for the white of the light.

Every gradation in the light scales is of different quantity the ratioof each of the color quantities to the white of the light being known.

The expressive value of a light scale is a matter of the greater or lessspace featured, or its extension play, as well as its greater and lessbrightness and darkness values.

One object of my invention is to provide mechanism that can effect suchuniversal application of the logical light scale as is required formaking a recordable art of light-color play so that a cue sheet forexpression through-light, whether used incidentally in drama orvaudeville, whether in the form of a light score to accompany theemotional content of music or as a homogeneous conception in light playfor its own sake, will be playable by anyone anywhere, as a sheet ofmusic isplayable Wherever a violin or piano is found or as a poem isreadable wherever printed.

Another object of my invention is to provide mechanism of the sameserial character as the serial light quantities of the scale it mustcontrol.

Another object of my invention is to provide for covering the completeangles of the field of vision in extending what I have likened to thebase of the cone of light till it is capable of reaching the individualat 190 degrees from side to side 120 degrees up and down.

Another object of my invention is to provide instrumental control meansfor every color of the spectrum of the same serial and cumulative in-06,; crease as for the white of the light.

Another object of my invention is to provide instrumental means for asystem of light-color play so single in its actuation as to be under thecontrol of the individuality of feeling and the taste, choice and willof the operator thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic counterpartfor any light conception or expression sequence as had been previouslydictated by the individuality of feeling and the Iii, taste, choice andwill of the conceiver thereof.

In practicing my invention I may provide a light-color instrumentclaimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 753,911 and the switchmechanisms claimed in my co-pending applicaso; tions Serial Nos. 709,283and 159,609.

Objects and advantages of my system will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a modified form of device embodying myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a view, in end elevation thereof.

I have found the current modifying means as shown in Figures 1 and 2 asuseful and capable of application in such a system.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing I have illustrated a modified form ofdevice embodying my invention, in which I may employ fluid connectortubes although I do not wish my invention as limited thereto, as it isplain the fundamental 06, principle may be variously carried out, ofsubstan-- tially annular form instead of the elongated form hereinbeforedescribed. A base plate 104 has mounted thereon a pair of spaced bearingmembers 105 and 106 that support a shaft member 107. The shaft member107 has mounted thereon a plurality of annular tubes 108, 109, and 111that may have resistance elements associated with them. Each of thetubes 108, 109, and 111 comprises an annulus of a suitableelectric-insulating material, such as quartz or glass, that has aplurality of spaced contact terminals 112 extending into the tubethrough the outer peripheral surface thereof. As all of the terminalmembers are of the same construction I have designated them by the samenumber. I have illustrated eight such terminal members spacedsubstantially equidistantly from each other and extending over slightlymore than ninety degrees of the periphery. A quantity 113 of a suitableconducting fluid, such as mercury, is located within the respectiveannular tubes and is just suflicient to fill substantially one half theinterior of the tube.

Each of the annular tubes is clamped between two cooperating plates 114and 115 that are each of substantially circular shape, and are heldtogether by a plurality of machine screws 116. The respective plates 114and 115 are provided with a groove in their opposing outer edges that isof such diameter as to receive the annular tube lined with a protectingmaterial and to hold it tightly between the two plates. The annulartubes, together with the supporting plates, are loosely mounted on theshaft 107 and are held in spaced relation by pairs of collars 117 and118 that are secured on the shaft in any suitable manner. The annulartubes are therefore free to turn on the shaft but are prevented fromlongitudinal movement relatively thereto.

The annular tube 108 has a gear wheel 119 operatively associatedtherewith by being suitably secured against the outer surface of theplate 115, while the tube 109 has a gear wheel 121 operativelyassociated therewith, and the tube 111 has a gear wheel 122 associatedtherewith. The tubes therefore turn with the respective gear wheels.

A second shaft 123 is supported in a plurality of bearing members 124and 125 on the base 104 and is alined substantially parallel to theshaft 107. A worm gear wheel 126 is mounted on the shaft 123 adjacent toone end thereof, and is operatively engaged by a worm 127 that may bemanually turned on mounted on the outer end of the shaft of a suitabledriving motor 128 which is, in turn, mounted on a supporting base 129located on the base plate 104 in order that it may be located properlyrelatively to the worm gear wheel 126, Collars 131 are secured to theshaft 123 outside of the bearing members 124 and 125 to prevent anylongitudinal movement of the shaft in its bearings. A plurality ofpinions 132, 133, and 134 are secured to the shaft 123 and are solocated that under the proper conditions of operation they may mesh withthe gear wheels 119, 121 and 122 respectively. Each of the hereinbeforedescribed gear wheels is provided with teeth over a portion only of itsperiphery, for a purpose to be hereinafter described in detail.

The flexible lead wires from the respective contact terminals of thetubes 108, 199, and 111 extend to stationary contact terminals mountedon terminal boards 135, 136, and 137 respectively, the contact terminalsmounted thereon being so constructed as to permit of conductorsindicated by the numeral 138 to be connected thereto.

A limit switch 139 is provided in such location as to be operated by amember 141 that is mounted on the plate 114 associated with the annulartube 108 and is effective to open the energizing circuit of the motor128 when the tube 108 has been given a turning movement in a clockwisedirection as viewed from the right hand end of the shaft 107, and it isdesired to terminate the turning movement thereof. A similar limitswitch 142 is mounted on the bearing member 105 and is actuated by a pin143 that is carried by the gear wheel 122. The limit switch 142 iseffective to limit the operation of the motor in causing a turningmovement of the gear wheel 122 in a counter clockwise direction asviewed from the right hand end of the shaft 107.

In actual operation the turning movement of the gear wheel 119 andtherefore of the tube 108 is terminated while the pinion 132 is still inmesh with the teeth of the gear wheel 119. The turning movement of thegear wheel 122 in a counter clockwise direction is terminated while theteeth thereof are still in mesh with the pinion 134. Means forinitiating the operation of the gear wheel 121 are constituted by a pin144 mounted on the gear wheel 119 and effective to operatively engage apin 145 carried by the gear wheel 121. Means for initiating theoperation of the gear wheel 122 is constituted by a pin 146 carried bythe gear wheel 121 and effective to engage a pin 147 carried by the gearwheel 122. The terminal boards 136 and 137 carry resilient members 148and 149 respectively which normally engage the pins 145 and 147respectively and yieldingly hold the gear wheels 121 and 122 in theirnormal inoperative positions wherein no circuit is energized through therespective fluid connector switch tubes 109 and 111 and which also holdthe gear wheels 119 and 121 respectively in their fully energized oroperative positions.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, theoperation thereof is substantially as follows:--It is understood thatthe operation of the motor 128 was terminated with the teeth of thepinion 132 still in mesh with the teeth of the gear wheel 119. The limitswitch 139 prevents the operation of the motor in such direction as tocause a turning movement of the gear wheel 119 in a clockwise directionas viewed from the right hand end of the shaft 107. The spaced terminalmembers 112 of the tube 108 are in substantially the position shown bythe broken lines in Fig. 10 of the drawing, that is, they are disengagedfrom the connecting fluid 113 in the tube. Upon energization of themotor 128 the pinion 132 causes a turning movement of the gear wheel 119and of the tube 108 in a counter clockwise direction, and the left handterminal member 112 first operatively engages the connecting fluid 113.If this is connected to one supply circuit conductor, a circuit isestablished as soon as the second contact terminal operatively engagesthe connecting fluid. It is evident that the connecting fluid remains insubstantially the same position while the annular tube is undergoing aturning movement on the shaft 107 by the gear wheel 119.

As the pinion 132 continues its turning movement and effects acorresponding turning movement of the gear wheel 119, one contactterminal after another is moved into engagement with the connectingfluid 113, thereby energizing the light sources electrically connectedthereto. When the turning movement of the gear wheel 119 has continuedto such a degree that the pin 144 operatively engages the member 145,the gear wheel 121 is given a turning movement until the teeth thereonoperatively mesh with the teeth of the pinion 133. At about this timethe gear wheel 119 has been moved to such a position that the last tooththereof is out of engagement with the pinion 132. after which no furtherturning movement of the gear wheel 119 can take place, and the latter isheld in its normal operative position by the engagement of the pin 144with the resilient holding member 148. In this position all of thespaced terminal members 112 are in engagement with the connecting fluidin the tube 108.

Further turning movement of the shaft 123 causes a corresponding turningmovement of the gear wheel 121, and a successive energization of lightsources connected to the respective terminal members extending into thetube 109. When the member 146 engages the member 147 the gear wheel 122is given a turning movement that effects the meshing thereof with thepinion 134. The gear wheel 122 is then permitted to remain in its normaloperative position with the member 146 engaging the resilient member149, further turning movement thereof being prevented by the lack offurther teeth in the gear wheel 121.

The operation of the motor 128 may continue until the member 143 engagesthe limit switch 142, which effects de-energlzation of the motor, withthe teeth of the pinion 134 and of the gear wheel 132 still in mesh, andwith all of the annular switch tubes moved to their fully energizedpositions. As was hereinbefore stated in connection with the deviceillustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, when the mechanism has been movedto one of its limiting positions the motor can be energized only to runin the opposite direction, and hence if all of the switches are in theirfully energized position they may be moved only to a position thatde-energizes one or more of the light sources controlled thereby.

When the motor 128 is energized to run in the opposite direction toeffect a turning movement of the switch tubes serially in clockwisedirection as viewed from the right hand end of the shaft 107, the actionof the various parts of the device is substantially similar but in areverse sense. The pin 147 operatively engages the pin 146 which hasbeen in engagement with the resilient holding member 149 and moves itand the gear wheel and annular tube in a clockwise direction until theteeth on the gear wheel 121 engage the teeth on the pinion 133, afterwhich further turning movement of the gear wheel 121 and of the switch109 associated therewith is effected by the pinion 133. The pin 147 isheld by the member 149 whereby the switch 111 is held in its normalinoperative position. The annular switch tubes are thus operatedserially or successively until the tube 108 has been moved into itsnormal inoperative position when further turning movement is stopped bythe de-energization of the motor 128 by reason of the actuation of thelimit switch 139 by the pin 141. It is understood that the diagram ofconnections i1- lustrated in Fig. 6 is employed with this form ofdevice.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying my inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire thatonly such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a multiple circuit limiting apparatus, a. rotatable shaft, aseries of spaced gears fixed thereon, a fixed shaft, a series ofinterrupted gears revoluble on said fixed shaft said interrupted gearsbeing in the same plane as said first mentioned gears the tooth segmentof the interrupted gear normally engaging the gear on the driven shaftthe teeth of the subsequent series of gears being normally out ofengagement, a multi-contact current controlling member carried by eachinterrupted gear and means whereby a predetermined rotation of the gearsof one series will cause engagement of the segmental teeth of asubsequent gear with those of a subsequent gear on the rotatable shaft.

2. In a system of the kind recited a multiple current modifying means, arotatable shaft having spaced gears fixed thereon, a fixed shaftparallel to the first shaft and having revoluble gears thereon, currentlimiting means carried by said second gears, means whereby movement isimparted to a subsequent current modifying gear means after movement ofa preceding gear.

3. In a multiple current control means, a driven shaft, spaced gearsfixed thereto, a fixed shaft parallel thereto, gears having segmentalteeth revoluble on said second shaft and mounted in the same plane assaid first gears the teeth of the first segmental gear being normally inengagement with its corresponding driving gear and the teeth of theother segmental gears being out of engagement with the correspondingdriving gears, current modifying means carried by the gears having thesegmental teeth, a pin carried by the first segmental tooth gear, anoppositely directed pin angularly displaced from the first pin carriedby the second segmental tooth gear adapted to be engaged by the firstpin to move the second segmental tooth gear into engagement with itscorresponding drive gear after a preceding segmental gear has movedthrough a pre-determinined arc.

MARY HALLOCK GREENEWALT.

